PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The City of Portsmouth is making strides in taking over the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.
Just days ago, the facility closed its doors for good, and city leaders have been in talks to purchase it.
Now, Portsmouth's vice mayor says a deal could be in the works that would hand over the keys as early as this summer.
A vote could take place this month to hand over the now-closed Hampton Roads Regional Jail to the City of Portsmouth. That's according to Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke.
She also serves on the jail authority board and says negotiations are making progress.
The jail officially closed on April 1 after serving five Hampton Roads cities for more than decades.
Board chairman Bob Geiss told 13News Now in October 2023 staffing challenges and fewer inmates played big roles in the decision.
The jail also fell under scrutiny over the deaths of multiple over the years.
"It just became apparent that the model was failing, and we weren't going to be able to continue to operate. The model was no longer functioning," said Geiss during an October 2023 interview.
13News Now previously reported Portsmouth leaders expressed interest in buying the facility, which is based in the city.
On Thursday, Geiss said the jail authority is ready to move forward if Portsmouth leaders present a formal offer.
"I'm just glad to see some light and some movement because time is not on our side because of the facility that functions as the Portsmouth City Jail," said Portsmouth Sheriff Michael Moore.
Moore is one of multiple leaders in Portsmouth openly pushing to buy the facility and replace the city's current jail, and Lucas-Burke has said it could give the city new options.
"Our jail is currently on the waterfront, and we need to be able to offer that to a prime developer and see if they can develop our waterfront into something beautiful that will be able to attract visitors," she said last fall.
In order for this to happen, leaders from all five cities (Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk and Newport News) would have to be involved with the jail.
If that happens, the city's vice mayor says they could move into the facility as soon as July.
Lucas-Burke and Geiss say a vote could take place at the jail authority's April 17 board meeting.
According to Lucas-Burke, discussion still needs to be had regarding the cost to purchase with early estimates of nearly $30 million.